Puddling device



Jim 6, 1931. w. J. FIEGEL ET AL 1,787,521

PUDDLING DEVICE Filed June 24, '1929 s sheets-sheep 1 Jan 6, 193l w. J. Fil-:GEL E'r AL 1,737,621

PUDDLING DEVICE Filed June 24, 1929 5 sheets-sheet v` 2 MMM ATTORNEY.,

INVENTOR 5 y 8 I W. J. IEGEL El AL i is Jan 6, i F

PUDDLING DEVICE eet 3 F'led June 24. 1929 3 SheetS-v-Sh i f a; .i 76 *731 a l i i. i0/

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Patented Jan. r6, 1931 g UNIT stares PATENT olflmzray XVILLXAM J'. FIEGEL AND W 1N FIELD S. ENDERICH, OFDETROIT, yMIICHIG'AN'7 ASSIGNORS *i TO'BOHN L.ALUMENUM AND BRASS CORPGRATON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ACOR- PoR-ATION or' MroHIenN Application led June 24,

This invention relates to puddling devices Y and has a primary'object the provision of` -means torelectingv a 'thorough agitation of themolten metal in the puddling Crucible to mix the unmelted metal as the` former is fed into the crucible and to remove all danger ot the molten metal burning inthe Crucible.

A further object ot the invention is to pro- Y vide a rotatable agitator rmovable from a position within the molten metalV to a position above the normal level of the same together with means automatically operable upon movement of the agitator to control the rotation ot the same. y y

These and many other objects and 'advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure'l isa sideelevational view partly vin section of a device constructed in accordance f with the. teachings ot this invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a 'fragmentary sectional view through .a portion of thestructure shown in Figurel. 30

In the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, the numeral 10v designates a support which may as illustrated be in the form ofy a wall provided with the openings 11 and 12 for a purpose hereinafterto be more fully described; On one side of the wall are the vcrucibles 13 adapted to receive metal to be melted and on theother side ot the wall are the actuating mechanisms 14, the latter being protected from the heat of, the crucibles by the wall 10. It desired the crucibles may be arranged in Vgroups of two, there being an actuating mechanism 14 associated with each Crucible, since as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing7 with this arrange-A y ment a single source of power" may supply power to both of the actuating mechanisms. It is to be clearly understood, however, that the crucibles and the actuating mechanisms for the same may be arranged either 'iii groups PUDDLING :DEVICE y as illustrated or may lbe mounted independf ently and operated independently as will be readily apparent.

Qecured to thefront face of the wall 10 is a supporting bracket which provides a bearing for a shaft 21 on which is fixed a pulley 22. The pulley is driven by a belt 9.3v

,The shafts` 27 and 29 extend horizont-ally across the front face of the wall-10 in spaced relation 4toeach other land vare journaled in bearings 30 and 31 respectively, carried by the bracket 20..; The shaft 27 is providedat its opposite Aends with the eccentrics 32 for a purpose hereinafter to be more 'fully vdescribed, while the shaft 29 is adapted to drivev the shaftsfSS arranged at its opposite ends and'projecting through the openings 11 in the wall 10 as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing.r It will be clearly understood that` for an yassembly of two criicibles there will be two-openings k11 and two shafts', the two shafts being driven by the same drivingshaft 29. y

F iXed-to the inner face of the wall 10 is a plate 35 having the projecting'ribs 36, one

iof these ribs being provided for each Crucible.

Pivotedas at 37 to each rib36 is a supportingmember BSwhich as illustrated may pre ferably. beA in the torni of a bell crank lever. Suspended from one leg 39 of this lever is a weight 40 forminga counter-balancing means to partially balance the weight of an agitator 41 supported as at 42 on an extension 43 of the otherleg 44 of thebell crank lever. This agitatorlis mounted for movement from a positionwithin the Crucible and below the normal level of the molten met-al, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, to a position above the normal Alevels-ot the molten metal, and this Vmovementof the agitator is efected by an oscillationo the bell crank`r lever 38 about its pivot 3?. F or oscillati ng the lever 38 there isprolvided a `link which extends through lil@ the opening l2 in the walll-O.A Fixed to the inner end of the link Y45 is a U-shaped strap Y 46 which forms a guide for a cross head 47 head at the extreme inner end of the U-shaped strap 46.A

The outer end of the link 45 is provided with the hook recess 50 adapted t-o be engaged by a pin 51 carried by the eccentric 32, the eccentric being keyed toY the shaft 27 as vat Obviously rotation of the shaft 27 r0- tates the eccentric 32and the pin 5l causing the link 45 to be periodically drawn outwardly through the opening 12vto rock the bell crank lever about its pivot. Thus: as the shaft 27 is vrotated the agitator is oscillated from a position withinthe Crucible to a position above the same, this oscillation of the agitator being continued until the link 45 is rendered inoperative in a manner about to be described.

. Slidably mounted fou-longitudinal movement in the bracket 2O is a bar 55 which is arranged parallel t-o and slightlybelow the shaft 27. A rod 56 isjour'naled in an opening 57 in the wall'lO and extends to a point I V30;

adjacent the crucible'13 where it is provided with an actuating handle 58 whereby the same may be rotated. The outer end ofthe rod 56 is bent upwardly as atl 59 and rearwardly as at 60 for engagement with the bar Obviously when the rod 56 is rotated oscillated the bar 55 will be reciprocated as will be clearly apparent by'reference to Figur-es 1 and 2 of the drawing. 'The bar 55 is adapted to be moved fromiits retracted position where its free end clears the link to a position'where its free end crosses the path of movement of the link 45 to thus limit downward movement of the link when the `latter is actuated by its eccentric connection to the shaft 27. By reference to Figure 2 of thedrawings it will be noted that the bar yshown at the right i-s in its retracted position Vwhere its free end clears the link 45 permitting movement of this linkin the manner above brought out. The ,bar 55 however, on l the left as viewed in Figure 2 is in its extended position where itsv free end crosses the path of movement of the link 45 to thus limit downward movement of this link.

In the operation of this portion of the device when the shaft 27 is rotated the link 45 is actuated to oscillate the bell crank lever andthe agitator 41, the latter being moved from a position within its Crucible t-o a position above the same as will be readily apparent.Y When, however, the handle 58 is moved to shift the bar 55 into its extended position, downward movement of the link 45 is limited so that the link 45 is not actuated by the eccentric 32 regardless of the continued rotation of the latter. Thus, when the bar 55 fis a pinion 67 adaptedto be driven by a bevelled pinion 68 keyed to a stub shaft 69 jourfnaled in a bearing 70 supported by the portion 43 of the bell crank lever. vThe shaft 69 is universally connected as at 71 to the shaft 33 whereby rotation of the shaft 33 effects a rotation of the agitator. Y

The shaft 33- extends through the opening 11 land is slidably and rotatably mounted in a bearing 72ffixed to an arm 73. The arm 73 is provided with a sleeved 'extension 74 journaled in the bearing 31 whereby the bearing 72 is mounted for rocking movement about'the shaft 29. -The arm 73 supports at its other end albearing 75 which rotatably journals the sleeve 76 of a driving clutch member 77.v Keyed to the other end of the sleeve 7 6is a pinion 78 mounted for meshing engagement witha gear 79 fixed to the end of the shaft 29.V Thus, whenever the shaft 29 is rotated theA driving clutch inember 77 is rotated, the sleeve 76 rotating within the bearing 75.

As brought out before the shaft 33 is slidably and rotatably'mounted in the bearing 72 and this shaft is also Vslidably and rotatably mounted in `suitable bearings within the sleeve 76. Thus, the driving clutch member 77 may be rotated without imparting rotation to the shaft 33.' At its free end the' shaft 33 is provided with the key-way 80 adapted to slidably but non-rotatably receive the hub 81 of a driven clutch member 82. The driven clutch member is normally held in engagement with the driving clutch member by a spring 83 which abuts at its one end against the hub 81 and at its other end against the collar 84 fixed to the shaft 33. Theinner end of the key-way terminates in 'a' shoulder 85 which limits longitudinal movement of the hub of the driven vclutch member and forms a means whereby upon longitudinal movement of the shaft 33 the driven clutch member may be moved out of engagement with the driving clutch member. Thus, whenever the agitator is moved vertically to its position 'above the crucible, the shaft 33 is moved outwardly longitudinally and the driven clutch member is moved out of engagement with the driving clutch member to thus disconnect the drive between' the drivingjshaft 29 and the driven vwhich extends over the bearing 75 and iny KOU lll)

- U-shaped strap 93, the legs 94 of which termi nate in the lateral extensions 95. A. similar U-shaped` strap 96 has its base secured as at 97 to the bearing 75 and has its legs 98 provided with the lateral extensions 99. The U-shaped straps are 'arranged in telescopic engagementwith each other and a spring 100 surrounds both of the U-shaped straps `and abuts at itsopposite ends against the lateral extensions 95 and 99. Thus the bearing 75 is yieldably suspended fromthe portion 92 of the arm 90'as will be Clearlyapparent by reference to Figure 1 of the drawing.Y Y I' D Y From Athe 'above itis believed that the structure and operation of the invention will be'clearly apparent; i In the embodiment of the invention shown there :are two crucibles 13'andgth'erefore two actuating mechanisms 14 both of which are driven by shafts 27 and 29 from the pulley 22. VIt is to beclearly understood, however, that vthe Crucibles maybe `arranged in groups of two as illustrated ormay be varranged in larger groups or singly, depending entirely upon the sizel of the plant in which the device is installed. Considering thenthe operation of one of the -agitators in connection with its Crucible, it y will be noted that the agitator is movable `from 'a position-within the Crucible and advjacent' the bottom vof thefsame to a point i ,.tator,a pivotal mounting for said agitator,

lmeans* for' oscillating said agitator mounting about kits pivot, means for rotating said y abovef'the'- crucibleiandabove the normal .levelv of the molten metal in the Crucible.

In use heat is applied to the Crucible in any' "desired manner tofmelt the metal therein 'andfduring the operation of the device unmelted metal is constantly added to the molten metal in the" Crucible and mixed with the molten metal. Thus, with the shafts 27 j'and-29 rotating,l the shafts vbeing driven from the pulley l22, and with a Certain Aamount of molten metalin the Crucible 13,

shavings or the like are fed into the top of the Crucible.' The rotation of the shaft 27 rotates the eccentric 32 to actuate the link 35 and thus rock the bell Crank lever 38. This rocking of the lever 38 effects an oscillation of the agitator 41 so that the agitator is moved from a position adjacent the base of the Crucible to a position above the normai level of the molten metal therein.

During its oscillation the agitator is periodically rotated by virtue of the engagement of the clutch members 77 and 82. Thus the agitator is moved to a position within the of the same will not be thrown outwardly this unmelted metal with the molten metal. V

The actuation of the agitator may be stopped by shifting the vbar 55 into the path.

of vmoverleent of the link 45 to prevent operation of this link bythe eccentrics 32.k Thus the actuation of each agitator may be Con-` trolled at' thev will of the operator and each agitator inits operation will eli'ect a thorough'lmixing .of the unmelted metal with the molten metal ywithin the Crucible.

While-the invention has been described with Considerable detail, it is to be Clearly understood that the description is for the purposes of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The

vrightis therefore reserved tomakev such Changes' 1n theidet-ails of Construction and arrangement ofparts as will fall within t-he purview of the attached Claims.`

What we Claim as our invention is:

1. :In a puddling device, a Crucible, an agiy tat-or, means for rotating said` agitator, and means independent of the rotating means for Vthe agitator for moving said agitator inV an arcuate path from a position within said Cru- Cible'and below the normal level of the molten metal therein to a position above the normal level of the molten metal.

2. In a puddling device, a Crucible, an agif agitator, and aCommon means for driving Hsaid 'oscillating means and said rotating means. i

` 3. In ak puddling device, a Crucible adapted `to contain molten metal, an agitatormeans for rotating said agitator while the same is within the Crucible, means for moving said agitator to a position above the normal level of the'fmolten metal, and means operable vupon the actuation of said last mentioned jmeans for rendering said rotating means incible;

'5x In a puddling device, a Crucible, an agi- -tator movablefrom a-position within the Crucible to a position exteriorof the same,

a driven shaft for rotating said agitator, a

driving shaft, a Clutch for Coupling said driving shaft to said driven shaftgand means for disengagingsaid Clutch upon movement of said agitator to its position exterior of said Crucible. f l

V6. VIn a paddling device, a Crucible, an agitator, a pivotallymounted support for said "cluding .a rotatable shaft, an'ecceiitric on eccentric andI yieldably support.

said shaft, and alink eiigageable with said connected to said 8. In a puddling device, a Crucible, an agi- ,tator, actuating meansfforfsaid agitator, '-nieans'for supporting said agitator Within Vsaid Crucible, a 'link for oscillating said supporting means, and means to'move the agi- "tator' to a position exteriorly of the Crucible for renderingfsaid link inoperative. Y

Y 9.A In a puddling device, a Crucible, an agi tator,ractuating imeans for saidV agitator, a pivotally vmounted.support for said agitator,

'a linkcoiinected to said support for oscillating the same, means for actuating said link, vand means for rendering said link inopera tive independently of the operationV of said link actuating means'.

' 10. In a puddling device, a Crucible, an

agitator, a pivotally mounted support for Vsaidagitator, a. link Vconnected to said support for 'oscillating the same' to move said agitator to positions Within and ext'eriorly of thev Crucible, means for actuating said link, and means for rendering said link inoperative independently of the operation of said y link actuating means, saidv lastfmentioned means yincluding a bar movable to a position to limit` inoveinentof said link in'one direction, and lmeans for moving said bar.

vll. In apuddling device, a Crucible, an agitator, a Vpivotally mounted bell crank lever for supporting said agitator Within said Crucible, means for moving said bell `crank lever about its pivot to move said agitator' out of -said Crucible, and counter balancing kmeans secured to said bell crank lever for tor.

l2. In a lpuddling device, an agitator, a

partially balancing the Weight of said agita- `'shaft for rotating said agitator, a driving Clutch member slidably and rotatably mount` ed onV said shaft, aV driven Vclutch member `keyed to'said shaft, and means for moving said shaft to selectively effect an engage- `nient or disengagement of said Clutch members. .1

I3."In a puddling device, an agitator, a

shaft vfor rotating saidagit'ator, a driving clutch member slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, -a driven clutch member keyed to said shaft, a spring for urging said clutch members into engagement with each other, and means for imparting vlongitudinal movementl to said shaft to e'ect Va disengagement of said clutch members.

14. In a 'puddling device, a Crucible, an agitator, means for supporting said agitator for movement from a position Within said Crucible to a position exterior of the same, means for moving said agitator to either of .the said positions, a driven shaft forrotating said agitator, said shaftbeiiig mounted for longitudinal movementupon movement of said agitator from either of said positions to the other, a `drive shaft, and means for clutching said drive shaft. to said driven shaft, said means being controlled by the longitudinal movement of said driven shaft.

15.- In ai pn'ddlingdevice, a Crucible, an

agitator, means forfs'upporting said agitator formovement-from a position Within said Crucible to aV position exterior of the same, meansffor movingv said agitator to Veither of the said positions, a driven shaft for rotatiiig said agitator, said shaft being mounted for-longitudinal. movement upon movenient of said agitator from either of said positions to theother, a drive shaft, and means forclutchingv said drive shaft to said driven shaft, said means being controlled by theflongitudinal movement of said drivenY shaft, and including adriving Clutch meinberrotatably mounted on said driven shaft, vandja driven clutch member keyed to said driven shaft andmovable therewith into and outof clutching engagement with said driving clutch member. Y Y y Y l 16.V In a puddling device, a Crucible, an

agitator, a. pivotally mounted support for jsaid agitator, and means for swinging said support. whereby to alternately move said agitator automaticallyv in an arcuate path to prjsitions Within and exteriorly of the Cru-Y ci le. Y lIn testimonyV whereof We affix our signatures.

WILLIAM J. FIEGEL.

WmriiiLD s. ENDERioH.

Ilm) 

